Tag Archives: dinner napkins

Happy Monday! Please tell me you got outside and enjoyed the AMAZING Fall weekend we just had?!? Today looks to be the only sunny day for the next week, so what better way to enjoy it than with the start of a new series on the blog!

I’m soooo excited to announce that as a result of meeting and collaborating with so many incredible talented creatives recently AND continually being inspired by how each got their start as an entrepreneur, I’ve decided to share the love and spotlight some of my favorite vendors – especially those you may not know about but should, while you’re planning your wedding (or any special occasion for that matter)!!

Our first vendor spotlight feature showcases Moss & Surf, and owner/designer, Susie McQuiddy. I learned of Susie’s talent and gorgeous work while on Instagram (yay for social media bringing people together in tangible ways!) and thoroughly enjoyed working together on a recent styled shoot! Her simply elegant color-block dinner napkins were the perfect touch to the lush greenery; they immediately brought the tablescape to another level as we tied them with fresh green leaves… perfection!

Susie is not only super talented at her handmade craft, she is extremely detail-oriented and invested in providing a product that compliments the exact look or color scheme you’re going for. I could go on and on about how wonderful she and her cocktail and dinner napkins are, but I’ll let the photos and her fun personality, speak for themselves! 😉

What led you to begin a business in entertaining, home goods, textiles and design?

I started MOSS & SURF as a way to combine all of my favorite things – graphic design, modern interiors, home entertaining, fashion trends, photography, and a passion for color! It was also a fantastic way for me to transition back into the real world after my husband and I (and our canine crew member ) traveled and lived aboard our sailboat for 2 1/2 years. The business is a perfect mix of my professional career as a graphic designer/art director and my longtime enthusiasm for creating handmade goods. I learned to sew in grade school while making clothes for my stuffed Snoopy and eventually advanced to sewing a few outfits for myself along with a lot of home decor! When I’m not working on MOSS & SURF, you can find me in the kitchen baking, walking the dog, or out sailing on the Chesapeake! As a side note, MOSS & SURF represents my love of a small family cabin in the woods with my love of the ocean. It’s also my initials…backwards! I’m a one-girl shop and do everything from the designing and sewing to the branding and photography in my small home studio located near the historic downtown of Fredericksburg, Virginia.

What is your favorite aspect about working with clients?

I love helping my clients pick just the right colors to match their tableware, home decor, or event theme! Often, my clients will send images of their dinnerware or placemats for inspiration. In one recent case, I worked with my client to select custom napkin colors for an intimate and eclectic home wedding. She sent an array of references including beautiful images of flowers from her garden. All of a sudden, I became a part of the entire wedding planning process – and a makeshift flower consultant too! It was so fulfilling to be able to lend an artistic eye to her overall vision and be a sounding board for her ideas. Even though the relationship started with a few simple questions about colors, it really blossomed into a true friendship!

What is one piece of advice you’d share with the bride and groom to keep in mind during the wedding planning process?

Oh gosh! My husband and I were married at such a young age, my mom took over almost all of the planning. We just sort of went with the flow and showed up on time! But if we did it all over again today, I would just try to enjoy the process and have fun! Don’t stress out about the details too much (I know that’s so much easier said than done!)…and definitely arrange for as many cake tastings as possible!

Where would you go if you were planning a honeymoon right now?

A honeymoon right now sounds wonderful! My husband and I are a bit of adventure seekers, but we also like lounging around too – a little bit of excitement plus a lot of R & R equals pure bliss for us! So, if you’re into scuba diving (or even snorkeling), Cozumel is our favorite! It can get touristy when the cruise ships come to port, but if you stay at a resort specifically for scuba divers, you’re protected from the regular hustle and bustle. Our favorite is Scuba Club Cozumel! It’s safe, secluded, low key, simple yet charming, and very peaceful. You can spend the mornings out on the water and then relax on their tiny private beach the rest of the day. The underwater sites are spectacular – especially if you try a night dive (hello, eels!). It’s not for everyone, but we would go back in a heartbeat!

What is your favorite color palette?

This is a tough question since my favorite colors change on a daily basis! However, I’ve been a bit obsessed with a soft, subtle shade of aqua blue lately. I guess it reminds me of the ocean! My number one resource for palettes is Design Seeds. There are so many beautiful combinations it’s hard to pick just one! Subtle teals, pale greys, and muted olive greens are always at the top of my list. But then again, I love strong colors like eggplant, chartreuse, and tangerine too!

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration in so many things! My go-to sources tend to be Instagram or catalogs and magazines such as Communication Arts, Design Within Reach, and CB2. I’m always on the lookout for interesting color combinations and they can really come from anywhere! It’s funny, I’ve had an image up on my iPhone of a beer label since February…it just makes me happy. It’s from Evil Twin Brewing called Modern IPA and the label is simply an array of beautiful, angled stripes in summery shades of hot pink and orange. I’m planning to make napkins out of this color combination eventually!

{Naomi interrupting here to say how much I LOVE the vibrant design of this can! …and how it just proves so well that inspiration can be found everywhere!!}

Favorite recent read or must-listen-to podcast?

My husband and I read every night before bed (sometimes I only last for 10 minutes) and I fully admit to being a detective thriller junkie! I just stumbled across an author on Kindle by the name of Joel Goldman. I’m on the third book in his Jack Davis series and will likely read every book he’s written before I switch to something else! I’m also a big fan of NPR – especially IA, Fresh Air, and Science Friday. Music is always on in the background while I work and I love everything from reggae, old school funk, and acid jazz to indie, latin, and electronica. Bob Marley, Thievery Corporation, and Buena Vista Social Club never fail to keep me moving!

Any exciting upcoming projects or collaborations we should be on the look out for?

Yes! Besides collaborating with the fabulous team behind the Accelerator Space styled wedding shoot, my napkins recently appeared in a tasting event for Eleven Courses Catering & Event Co. and I’m working on a few small custom napkin projects through my Etsy shop. I’m thrilled to be one of the artists featured on Cultivations (cultivations.com), a beautifully curated online shop for handmade goods designed in the U.S. Everyday is exciting for me and I’m so appreciative of all the opportunities I’ve had since launching MOSS & SURF last July!

I can’t thank Susie enough for sharing her talent and style with me (and us!) – her color combos are always so uplifting and the elegant look and feel to her napkins is something you won’t want your guests to be without!!

Thanks again, Susie! Cheers to an amazing first year for Moss & Surf!!